The Book of Kells by Kevin O’Donnell is a deeply personal and self-reflective song born out of the songwriter’s adventurous journey. Written about six months into O’Donnell’s family trip, the song encapsulates his experiences traveling across America in an RV with his wife and two young children. Now, over two years later, O’Donnell continues to travel, playing music and connecting with people across the country, including Hawaii.
The song itself began as a playful jam session with his acoustic guitar, starting with the light-hearted line, “Should have opened up a bar when I got sober, so all my friends could still come over.” What began as a joke quickly turned into a reflective and confessional piece, where O’Donnell humorously lists his “coulda, woulda, shoulda” moments in life. These personal regrets and musings are delivered with a self-deprecating wink, offering a raw and relatable look at human flaws.
The title, The Book of Kells, references the famous Celtic Gospel manuscript, and while the song’s lyrics carry no deep religious meaning, it serves as a metaphor for a collection of personal confessions and regrets. The fictional bar O’Donnell imagines opening, with all its quirky possibilities, is a symbol for the choices he feels he missed along the way, paired with the line “broke, and livin’ with a landlord on my throat.”
Recorded in Nashville and finished in Phoenix, The Book of Kells is a departure from O’Donnell’s usual music style. It’s poppy, lighthearted, and fun to play live, with a playful edge to it. It’s a song about human vulnerability and the existential questions we all have, wrapped in humor and honesty. With influences from personal experience, O’Donnell’s delivery is cathartic and inviting. It’s a song that resonates not just with O’Donnell but with anyone who’s ever wondered about the road not taken.
Featuring Terry “LT” Green Jr. on drums and Erick Joya on bass, The Book of Kells is a fun, yet introspective anthem that finds its place as one of O’Donnell’s more playful and memorable tracks. Plus, it holds a special place in his heart as it’s his mother’s favorite!
